Edward Snowden Officially Asks Russia to Let Him Stay, at Least for a Little While

Airport settler Edward Snowden has formally requested asylum in Russia after weeks of waffling. The NSA leaker initially included the country on his list of potential permanent destinations, but withdrew his application when Vladimir Putin stipulated that he’d have to stop leaking information that damaged Russia’s allies in the U.S. Then he spent a while longer at the airport. Last week, during a meeting with human-rights groups at the Moscow transit zone where he’s been holed up, Snowden again announced his intentions to ask Russia for refuge, at least temporarily, until he can make it to Latin America. The begging and choosing is all basically the same at this point, considering the guy hasn’t moved in quite awhile.